RANT: About releasing the 9/11 info

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Dear Mr. Reinke,

Thank you for contacting me regarding Res.428 – Urging the president to release information regarding the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks upon the United States. I appreciate the benefit of your views on this important issue.

As you know, on 12/02/2013, this legislation was introduced by Rep. Walter B. Jones Jr. (R-NC) and was referred to the House Committee on Intelligence Should the Senate consider this legislation or similar proposals in the future, I will certainly keep your thoughts in mind.

Again, thank you for contacting me. For further information or to sign up for my newsletter please visit my website at http://www.warner.senate.gov.

Sincerely,
MARK R. WARNER
United States Senator

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SO go away and stop bothering me?

# – # – # – # – #  2015-May-05 @ 21:14  

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FUN: Cinco De Mayo

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Ok, lately I’ve gotten e‐mails from people claiming that the Titanic was carrying mayonnaise (some say 12,000 jars, others give no quantity). Once the Titanic reached New York, it’s next supposed destination was Mexico. The e‐mail always ends with a corny Sinko de Mayo joke.

The only evidence I’ve found that this is a joke and not some coincidence embellished with a poor inter‐lingual pun is that mayonnaise was supposedly just invented in 1912.

Any help here?

Most people don’t know that back in 1912, Hellmann’s mayonnaise was manufactured in England.

In fact, the Titanic was carrying 12,000 jars of the condiment scheduled for delivery in Vera Cruz, Mexico, which was to be the next port of call for the great ship after its stop in New York. This would have been the largest single shipment of mayonnaise ever delivered to Mexico. But as we know, the great ship did not make it to New York. The ship hit an iceberg and sank, and the cargo was forever lost.

The people of Mexico, who were crazy about mayonnaise, and were eagerly awaiting its delivery, were disconsolate at the loss. Their anguish was so great, that they declared a National Day of Mourning, which they still observe to this day.

The National Day of Mourning occurs each year on May 5th and is known, of course, as Sinko de Mayo.

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: USA interrogation techniques; unacceptable

Monday, May 4, 2015

May 4, 2015
Mr. Ferdinand Reinke
1641 International Dr Unit 414
McLean, VA 22102-4831

Dear Mr. Reinke:

Thank you for contacting me about the report on interrogation techniques by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. It was good to hear from you.

I believe that torture has no place in national security methods; it should not be used as it contradicts our values. In December 2012, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) voted 14-1 to approve a more than 6,000-page report that included detailed information on each detainee the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) interrogated, the methods used, and the accuracy of the intelligence. Since 2005, the SSCI has worked on this report, conducting its own investigation into these tactics. Following this investigation, on April 3rd, 2014 the SSCI voted in a bipartisan manner to declassify certain sections of the report. On December 9th, 2014 the SSCI released an unclassified executive summary and findings of the report to the public. The report found that enhanced interrogation methods were not effective or properly justified. In addition, the study cited discrepancies between management, oversight, and reporting to the administration of interrogations the CIA conducted.

While I am well aware of the unique national security challenges faced by our nation, I have always believed strongly that torture is not a proper method for ensuring our security and does not belong in the pursuit of our foreign policy or national security goals. I support the Committee’s thorough work to properly oversee and review intelligence collection methods, and support the report’s release. I believe that intelligence collection is critical to our national security and counterterrorism efforts, and I deeply respect the work of the professionals who remain vigilant and keep us safe. I hope that by fully exposing these past interrogation measures we can help guard against the future use of such a program, which is inconsistent with American values.

I am encouraged that the SSCI carefully reviewed the information presented to it and continues to evaluate a number of important issues. As a member of both the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, I recognize the important implications the declassification of this report has on our servicemembers and intelligence community, which are so closely tied to Virginia, as well as on efforts to maintain diplomatic relations to and manage future conflict.

Thank you again for taking the time to contact me with your views on this important matter.

Sincerely,

Signature

Tim Kaine

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I tried!

# – # – # – # – #  2015-May-04 @ 21:13  

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POLITICAL: Is the Gooferment inflicting suffering on the people

Monday, May 4, 2015

https://www.lewrockwell.com/2015/04/tyler-durden/needless-suffering-inflicted-on-ordinary-americans/

The Baltimore Riots: The Stunning Comments By Orioles Owner’s Son
By Tyler Durden
Zero Hedge
April 29, 2015

*** begin quote ***

The innocent working families of all backgrounds whose lives and dreams have been cut short by excessive violence, surveillance, and other abuses of the Bill of Rights by government pay the true price, an ultimate price, and one that far exceeds the importance of any kids’ game played tonight, or ever, at Camden Yards. We need to keep in mind people are suffering and dying around the U.S., and while we are thankful no one was injured at Camden Yards, there is a far bigger picture for poor Americans in Baltimore and everywhere who don’t have jobs and are losing economic civil and legal rights, and this makes inconvenience at a ball game irrelevant in light of the needless suffering government is inflicting upon ordinary Americans.”

*** end quote ***

Wow. that’s a pretty damning indictment of the current Gooferment and the policies of the last 30 years.

When you think of the “Rust Belt” and the demise of the American auto industry, that’s the exemplar of what this is saying.

It can’t be “corrected”. Anymore than you can hold back the tides.

But the Gooferment, with its Crony Capitalism, feathering the nest of politicians and bureaucrats, and all the other abuses, has finally killed the “goose that lays the golden eggs”.

Do we have to be like the alcoholic, who wakes up face down in a pool of his own fluids, to realize that help is needed?

Apparently so.

Seems like there are some very ugly chickens that have to be dealt with and they problems all start (and possibly end) with Gooferment.

Best we can do is starve the beast into submission. No new taxes, no new fee, no nothing. 

Period. End of story.

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SURVIVAL: What do you have when your house collapses or worse

Sunday, May 3, 2015

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3055045/Homes-offices-collapse-massive-earthquake-rocks-Nepal-destroying-historic-19th-century-tower.html

The tiny gap between life and death: Entombed alive with the body of his friend, Nepal earthquake victim is finally pulled free as death toll rises to 2,500

  • The earthquake survivor was pulled from rubble of his home in Swyambhu in the Kathmandu Valley on Sunday 
  • He had been stuck with the lifeless body of his friend after the building they were in collapsed around them 
  • In the Nepalese capital city of Kathmandu the bodies of hundreds killed have been laid out in the street 
  • Rescue teams are frantically using their hands to dig out survivors as aid relief from neighbouring India arrives
  • As many as 18 climbers on Mount Everest were killed when base camp was swallowed by avalanche on Saturday 
  • More bodies are being pulled from destruction in cities ‘by the hour’ as the death toll continues to rise 

By SARA MALM and JENNIFER SMITH and STEPHANIE LINNING and HANNAH PARRY FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 03:55 EST, 25 April 2015 | UPDATED: 14:32 EST, 26 April 2015

*** begin quote ***

Thousands of people spent the night outside in chilly temperatures and patchy rain, too afraid to return to their damaged homes or sleep indoors for fear of another tremor. Aftershocks from the deadly earthquake have ravaged through the country today. When the aftershocks come you cannot imagine the fear… you can hear the women and children crying ‘The aftershocks keep coming … so people don’t know what to expect,’  said Sanjay Karki, Nepal country head for global aid agency Mercy Corps. ‘All the open spaces in Kathmandu are packed with people who are camping outdoors. When the aftershocks come you cannot imagine the fear. You can hear women and children crying.’

*** end quote *** 

We see “natural disasters”, but it’s like no one prepares.

In the USA, we have tornados, floods, power outages, and blizzards. There are gas explosions, fires, and wind damage. 

Many different ways a house can become a total loss.

But no one is prepared it seems for anything.

My paternal grandmother in Oregon had a storm “cellar” nearby her house. Up on a rise, dug into the hill, with her “put up food”, blankets, and stuff. In bad weather, she sleep in it. 

Most people have nothing, zero, nada. Not even a plan.

We’re very luck that this doesn’t happen often. But it does happen often enough.

I have serval 72 hour bags around. Maybe even I need more.

Hmmm?

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CLOUD: My desire to leave the Apple / Microsoft “jail” is hindered by these functions or programs

Saturday, May 2, 2015

TO produce my Jasper Jottings:

  • BlueGriffon — to compose HTML
  • MARSEDIT — to capture my daily Jasper Jottings blog
  • FileZilla — to post it
  • Mail chimp — web-based service
  • Yahoo Group — web-based service 

TO produce my blog:

  • MARSEDIT —blog posts
  • TEXEXPANDER — for quotes and shorthand

Other functions

  • iMessage — for texting
  • Opera Mail — for yet another Mail program and rss feeds
  • PROXPN — for privacy on public wifi
  • LIBRE OFFICE — microsoft compatibility
  • CLIP MENU — for cut and paste memory 
  • DOXIE — for scanning
  • FACETIME — for video calls
  • FITBIT CONNECT — for tracking
  • FORMAT MATCH — cut and paste format free text
  • LASTPASS — password generation
  • SCRIVENER — for writing; constrained by disk space
  • PHOTO — space constrained

Any suggestions?

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MONEY: Investing short term earnings and long term as well?

Friday, May 1, 2015

https://www.quora.com/I-am-a-single-mother-who-is-looking-to-invest-my-money-What-suggestions-do-you-have-for-something-that-will-be-good-for-short-term-earnings-and-long-term-as-well?__snids__=1105045430&__nsrc__=2

I am a single mother who is looking to invest my money. What suggestions do you have for something that will be good for short term earnings and long term as well?

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I’m a big fan of Ric Edelman, the Financial Advisor, who does a weekly radio show for decades. He says that his objective to help people become rich.

(Disclaimer: I’m a Client for several years and get nothing for giving this recommendation.)

He offers — and several of my coworkers have taken them up on it — to spend some time with ANYONE regardless of possible account size and help identify your goals and suggestions how to reach them.

One specific coworker had a job, a mortgaged house, and nothing else. One of their Financial Advisors has spent four hours with her over the last three months coaching her financially. So I’d recommend that you talk to one of these guys rather than trying to go it alone.

There is NO obligation to do business with them.

They are registered financial advisers which means they work in your best interest (i.e., the fiduciary standard).

They have an account minimum of 5k$ if you want to have them handle your investments. So, I’d say 1-800-call-ric or ricedelman dot com.

I worked on Wall Street for a couple of decades, managed my own portfolio, and I wish I had found them much sooner. Just my opinion.

Remember the sources of my education! I’m just a fat old white guy injineer with:

  • Law “degree” from watching Judge Judy;
  • Medical “degree” from watching Doctor Phil;
  • Building “degree” from watching “Holmes on Homes”;
  • Investing “degree” from reading about Bernie Made-off;
  • Finance “degree”from listening to Ric Edelman;
  • Sensitively managing Human Resources from watching Chef Ramsey; AND
  • Creating loving /  caring human relationships from studying the movie roles
    of Gunny Ronald Lee Ermey! 

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SURVIVAL: Being fragile “animal” in a dangerous world

Thursday, April 30, 2015

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/04/25/2-missing-sisters-visiting-family-in-michigan-found-after-nearly-2-weeks/?intcmp=latestnews

MIDWEST
2 missing sisters visiting family in Michigan found after nearly 2 weeks
Published April 25, 2015
FoxNews.com

*** begin quote ***

The women – Leslie Roy, 52, and Lee Marie Wright, 56 – survived on Girl Scout cookies while stuck in their snow-crippled SUV. A pilot noticed a reflection off the Ford Explorer and landed the police helicopter on shore, ending the women’s unexpected wilderness adventure.

*** end quote ***

Tough world out there. Especially when you’re unprepared.

It’s not like you don’t have room in an SUV for a “Bug Out”, “Get Home”, or “Holy Hell What’s Happening” bag.

Fire making materials, survival blankets, food and water seem obvious.

And people think an SUV is a ATV.

At least they were smart enough to stay with the SUV!

Dumb that they didn’t start burning the spare after a week?

Recently when I was driving from Manchester NH to Keene NH, I found large stretches with no cell phone service. So you can’t depend upon that.

Most important is a survival mindset. 

If you’re depending upon a road being plowed, then you better do some research.

When in Vegas and we’d go for a ride, there were always two gallons of water in the rental car. And we were NOT going of the beaten track. But it’s dry and hot there.

And, finally, you always have to leave a route with your “canary”. That is someone who knows where you are, where you’re going, and when you’ll check back in. I acted as a “canary” for someone traveling alone in Japan. (We even had a code word!)

These women were very lucky.

The human being is a fragile “animal” in a dangerous world.

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TINFOILHAT: OKC Bombing story starts to crack open;

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

http://whowhatwhy.org/2015/04/22/exclusive-oklahoma-city-bombing-breakthrough-part-1-of-2/

Exclusive: Oklahoma City Bombing Breakthrough, Part 1 of 2
April 22, 2015 by Roger Charles

*** begin quote ***

So, were McVeigh, Nichols and Fortier disgruntled domestic terrorists operating on their own? Apparently not, according to one long-time FBI Confidential Informant (CI).

Shortly after the April 19, 1995, bombing, John Matthews, a CI targeting right wing and neo-Nazi groups (but expressly forbidden to target OKBOMB-related information), reported to his FBI handler information relevant to McVeigh. Matthews recounted how, a few years before the Oklahoma City attack, he had attended a weekend training session in Austin, Texas, for a suspect paramilitary group. While at this meeting, Matthews met two ex-soldiers, introduced as “Tim” and “Andy.”

In the post-bombing media deluge, Matthews realized that “Tim” was Timothy McVeigh, When Matthews related his information about “Tim” and “Andy the German” to Don Jarrett of Phoenix, his FBI handler, Jarrett responded, “We know, John. Don’t worry about it. We got it covered.”

*** end quote ***

So McVeigh was executed.

The trial judge didn’t order DOJ to explain the FBI and ATF involvement.

It’s probably that this was either bungled or prompted.

Argh!

Just once, I’d like to get the straight truth about anything.

“Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Whose gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinburg? I have a greater responsibility than you could possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago, and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That Santiago’s death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don’t want the truth because deep down in places you don’t talk about at parties, you want me on that wall, you need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said thank you, and went on your way, Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon, and stand a post. Either way, I don’t give a damn what you think you are entitled to.” Colonel Jessep in A Few Good Men played by Jack Nicholson

“We, The Sheeple” are ENTITLED to the truth.

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RANT: Drug addiction is a MEDICAL problem

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Advisory: Police / Health Officials Warn of Spike in Overdoses Related to Synthetic Marijuana

Dear Nixle User,

Police and Health Officials Warn of Spike in Synthetic Marijuana Overdose Cases

The New Jersey Poison Information and Education System is issuing an alert for a “Street Drug” causing life-threatening reactions. The agency along with state health officials are warning people not to use products sold as synthetic marijuana (often called spice, k2, etc.). In the past week, there have been approximately 30 people admitted to hospitals in NJ and many more in NY suffering the consequences of using these products. As of now, no one really knows what is in these substances. However, what is known is that people are getting very sick from it; severe agitation, seizures, renal failure, and other life-threatening reactions are being reported.

On Tuesday South Brunswick Police and EMS responded to a township home where a 22 year old female was convulsing and throwing up. Officers found her lying on the ground shaking uncontrollably. Friends indicated that the woman had been smoking synthetic marijuana. Monmouth Junction First Aid Squad transported the woman to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital for treatment.

The large increase in overdose cases in New Jersey mirrors recent activity in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania where more than 39 cases have been reported in the past week. Lehigh County officials indicate that some of the patients had various degrees of intoxication that resulted in at least one being intubated. In some cases patients have shown aggressive behavior toward police officers and emergency medical services personnel.

Health officials want parents and community members to be aware of the dangers of these substances. For more information please contact a poison expert at 800-222-1222.

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When was the last time you heard something like this in the non-illegal drug marketplace?

Excedrine poisoning, maybe.

And the makes immediately resigned the packaging to be tamper proof.

The “(pseudo) War on (some) Drugs” ENSURES that we will suffer these types of episodes REGULARLY.

Maybe that’s what the Gooferment politicians and bureaucrats want!

Drugs are bad. We need Mommie and Daddie Gooferment to protect us.

Argh!

Drug addiction is a MEDICAL; not legal problem.

Repeal the drug laws. (How did they ever get passed in the first place with our experience with Prohibition!)

Let WalMart, Walgreens, RiteAid, and CVS dispense “good” “illegal” drugs — that are clean and of a know quantity and quality.

Just like at the casinos, tell folks where to go to get help if they have a problem.

(Why is that “good enough” for problem gamblers and problem drinkers, but not for some drug abusers?)

Argh!

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LIBERTY: War comes to the USA

Monday, April 27, 2015

https://www.lewrockwell.com/2015/04/john-w-whitehead/battlefield-america-2/

Battlefield America: The War on the American People
By John W. Whitehead
April 22, 2015

*** begin quote ***

Noam Chomsky summed it up when he said that Washington regards any information that does not repeat Washington’s propaganda to be intolerable.

Washington’s assault on truth as a threat helps to make sense of the gigantic National Security Agency spy system exposed by William Binney and Edward Snowden. One of the purposes of the spy network is to identify all “dissidents” who challenge Big Brother’s “Truth.”

*** and ***

Trust me, if it looks like a battlefield (armored tanks on the streets, militarized police in metro stations, surveillance cameras everywhere), sounds like a battlefield (SWAT team raids nightly, sound cannons to break up large assemblies of citizens), and acts like a battlefield (police shooting first and asking questions later, intimidation tactics, and involuntary detentions), it’s a battlefield.

Indeed, what happened in Ocala, Florida, is a good metaphor for what’s happening across the country: Sheriff’s deputies, dressed in special ops uniforms and riding in an armored tank on a public road, pulled a 23-year-old man over and issued a warning violation to him after he gave them the finger. The man, Lucas Jewell, defended his actions as a free speech expression of his distaste for militarized police.

*** end quote ***

Clearly, the “Rubicon” has been crossed.

When does “We, The Sheeple” resist? If resistance is possible.

It has to be peaceful resolute non-violence in the tradition of Gandhi and MLK.

“Yes. In the end, you will walk out. Because 100,000 Englishmen simply cannot control 350 million Indians, if those Indians refuse to cooperate.” — movie Gandhi (1983)

In this case, it’s 320 million “sheeple” and several million politicians and bureaucrats. 

But the answer is the same — withdraw your consent, put sand in the machinery of Gooferment, and just say no!

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JLINKEDIN: McCrosson, Matt (MC????) new job Partner, O’Connor Davies, LLP

Sunday, April 26, 2015

2015-Apr-26

Matt McCrosson has a new job: Partner, O’Connor Davies, LLP

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https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmccrosson

McCrosson, Matt (MC????)
Partner,O’Connor Davies, LLP
Greater New York City AreaAccounting

Summary
My diverse professional experience and background provide a better understanding of the challenges faced by my clients. I strive to offer practical guidance that improves operating capability and helps the organization as a whole.

I am a partner of the Firm and have more than 20 years of experience in public accounting. I provide a broad scope of management advisory services to a diverse range of clients, including business finance, operations, technology, and performance improvement. I have significant experience in planning for organizational change, and helping my clients remain on track in a rapidly-changing corporate environment.

Prior to joining O’Connor Davies, I held a senior position at a Big Four accounting firm and focused on clients in the not-for-profit, higher education and government sectors. Earlier in my career, I served as the Chief Operating Officer or Chief Financial Officer for several national and regional not-for-profit organizations, including the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation and the New York Urban Coalition.

I regularly speak on the topics of financial reporting, organizational efficiency and operations management. I am also a dedicated volunteer and sit on numerous not-for-profit organization Boards.

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ECONOMICS: Forget gay marriage; is marriage over

Sunday, April 26, 2015

https://www.lewrockwell.com/2015/04/no_author/men-go-on-strike-against-marriage/

Why Men Won’t Get Married Anymore
Women complain chaps today won’t settle down. Sorry, ladies, but it’s all your fault, argues a wickedly provocative new book
By Peter Lloyd
Daily Mail
April 21, 2015

*** begin quote ***

When it comes to marriage, men are on strike.

Why? Because the rewards are far less than they used to be, while the cost and dangers it presents are far greater.

‘Ultimately, men know there’s a good chance they’ll lose their friends, their respect, their space, their sex life, their money and — if it all goes wrong — their family,’ says Dr Helen Smith, author of Why Men Are Boycotting Marriage, Fatherhood And The American Dream.

‘They don’t want to enter into a legal contract with someone who could effectively take half their savings, pension and property when the honeymoon period is over.

‘Men aren’t wimping out by staying unmarried or being commitment phobes. They’re being smart.’

*** end quote ***

This is a scary trend. That will remake society.

It’s part of the trend that makes the woman rich out of any marriage. 

Palimony was just the first step.

Used be that divorce was a Hollywood thing.

Argh!

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POLITICAL: Make the FDA advisory, not dictatorial

Saturday, April 25, 2015

https://downsizedc.org/etp/fda/

Make the FDA advisory, not dictatorial.

All too often the FDA has been demonstrated to be in bed with Big Pharma. I believe the term is “regulatory capture”. It’s time to separate medicine and government!

Government’s proper role is prevent force or fraud on its citizens. Hence, the proper role is left to the courts for redress of damages. When government decides what’s “best” for individuals, that far exceeds it’s proper role.

The easiest way to fix this is to take the FDA out of the approval process completely and let the people decide. Since they will bear the brunt of the decision, I’m sure they will do a good job.

When the FDA delays or blocks, the victims have no choices.

That’s not the American way.

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POLITICAL: “Balance” means no change?

Friday, April 24, 2015

April 20, 2015
Mr. Ferdinand Reinke
1641 International Dr Unit 414
McLean, VA 22102-4831

Dear Mr. Reinke:

Thank you for contacting me about the National Security Administration (NSA) and the PATRIOT Act. I appreciate hearing from you.

In June 2013 details of two NSA programs were published in the media as a result of leaked confidential documents. News articles indicated that since 2007, under provisions within the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and the PATRIOT Act, the NSA has monitored private communications in an effort to increase national security.

The primary mission of the U.S. intelligence community is to detect and prevent the very real threat of terrorism on our homeland. According to General Keith Alexander, Director of the NSA, and Robert Mueller, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the intelligence community has successfully used these programs to identify and thwart dozens of terrorist plots at home and abroad. Additionally, leaders from the House and Senate Intelligence Committees have defended these programs stating that they are transparent, lawful, and have been instrumental in defending our homeland.

Many have expressed legitimate concerns about the privacy implications of this policy. I believe we must balance the need for privacy with the need to maintain national security. I also believe there needs to be an open discussion about the limits of surveillance and the need for transparency.

In December 2013 the President’s Review Group on Intelligence and Communications Technologies issued a report on “Liberty and Security in a Changing World.” The report recommended forty-six changes to our national surveillance programs, some executive and some legislative. In response to the report, in January 2014 President Obama announced a series of executive reforms, including the development of a blueprint for consumer privacy in the digital age, a commitment to declassify certain court opinions, and changes in the bulk collection of phone data.

On July 29th, 2014 Senator Patrick Leahy reintroduced legislation, the USA FREEDOM Act, to end bulk collection of the telephone records of Americans, to reform the Federal Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC), and to improve transparency. On November 18th, 2014 a vote to begin debate on this measure failed to receive the 60 votes required to cut off a filibuster; the vote was 58-42. The updated legislation would have required the government to narrowly limit and define surveillance targets, enhanced transparency and reported how many individuals – including U.S. citizens – have had their information collected. On March 19th, 2015 Representative Mark Pocan introduced the Surveillance State Repeal Act, also designed to improve transparency and reform the targeting and surveillance of individuals.

I will continue to closely monitor future proposals and will work to ensure that efforts to improve our national security also protect constitutional rights in a balanced way. Thank you once again for contacting me about this important matter.

Sincerely,

Signature

Tim Kaine

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argh!

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POLITICAL: Prefer Entrepreneurs and Business over Gooferment politicians and bureaucrats

Thursday, April 23, 2015

http://keywestlou.com/a-busy-monday/

A BUSY MONDAY
Posted on April 21, 2015 by keywestlou

*** begin quote ***

Monday’s E-Blast carried an article re the Waterfront brewery remodeling. The property is city owned. It is being remodeled for the two tenants who will be occupying. A brewery and restaurant.

My concern is with over costs/over runs. Everything Key West does construction wise, involves the taxpayers getting hit with additional costs for alleged unexpected problems. The brewery thus far has run into two. An additional cost of $64,000. Not much, but more.

Over costs seem to occur on every type construction Key West is involved in. Sometimes in the millions. I never ran into this situation in other areas. Key Wet calls them unexpected. I call them a series of screw ups by the city in not properly investigating and/or discovering the work initially.

Key West never seems to learn.

*** end quote ***

And you should ask “why is the Gooferment in the property business at all?”

Entrepreneurs, risking their own capital, will do a much better job. 

Think Donald Trump and NYC Central Park’s Wollman Ice Skating Rink!

http://www.nytimes.com/1986/06/06/nyregion/who-can-fix-the-wollman-rink-faster-city-and-trump-agree-it-s-trump.html

Argh!

Gooferment is immoral, ineffective, and inefficient.

Your examples of “overruns” is just more evidence that it is “bad news”.

Let the politicians and bureaucrats go into private business if they want to be developers.

Argh!

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JOBFINDING: CFO

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

2015-Apr-22

Good day,
.
I’m reaching out to advise you of a very special CFO opportunity. The Thor Group is assisting our client, a major state government authority, hire a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to replace their retiring CFO. Our client is one of America’s largest public authorities in terms of its construction and financing output. This Authority has been the top issuer of municipal bonds in the United States at one point, issuing US$3.16 billion of municipal bonds in one year. In 2006, this Authority was ranked fourth in the USA for municipal bond issuance. In 2005, the Authority’s construction expenditures topped US$1 billion. The Authority has the power of eminent domain to get construction projects built.
.
JOB OVERVIEW – Chief Financial Officer

In the capacity of Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and reporting to the Executive Director the person selected would manage the accounting and financial side of this large Government Agency. This CFO serves in two capacities: as Chief Financial Officer responsible for all financially­ related operations and Information Systems of the Authority; and as Treasurer serving as a statutory Officer of the Authority. The CFO is responsible for Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable which disburses from $2 Billion to $5 Billion annually. The CFO manages the direct investment function for a Portfolio of $4 to $6 Billion. And, the CFO oversees a portfolio of 900 + construction projects totaling more than $6 Billion, 200 of which are active construction totaling $3.3 Billion. The construction projects are managed within their Oracle Primavera Contract Management I.T. system. To accomplish this the CFO oversees a department of 40 managers, accountants, and analysts, plus an additional 30 to 35 Information Services personnel and contractors.
.
ESSENTIAL SKILLS:

1. ESSENTIAL: Working knowledge of Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) and Governmental Accounting Standards Board (“GASB”) standards.

2. ESSENTIAL: Working knowledge of Internal Controls, Strategic Planning, Federal Tax Regulations related to tax exempt bonds, and debt issuance process

QUALIFIERS:

· Large staff management experience.
· CPA OR Master’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, Economics, or related field
· Experience in finance, consulting, or management within a major business or government enterprise and/or nationally recognized CPA or consulting firm.
· Experience with the preparation of financial statements,
· Exposure in the areas of financial management, debt capital markets, and investments
.
· PREFER (but not required): Knowledge of complex governmental operations, higher education and health care industries, current information technology, trends and strategy is strongly preferred.

· PREFER (but not required): Experience in construction or financial industries

.

INTERESTED – APPLY

To apply or learn more about this terrific full-time employment opportunity – I.D. #31123 – simply return this email to me with resume and your phone number.

.
….. Remember include your resume & phone number (___) ___-____…..
.
REFER a COLLEAGUE
If Job #31123 does not fit you – be a friend – refer a colleague – send them this email – or – forward their contact information to willm@thorgroup.com ……

.

Regards,

 

Will McElroy

The THOR Group

Dallas Regional Office

Direct Line: 214-547-1244

Office Line: 310-727-3089

E-mail: willm@thorgroup.com

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ECONOMICS: Pulling up the lower rungs of the economic ladder

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

http://cafehayek.com/2015/04/minimum-logic-maximum-straw.html

Minimum Logic, Maximum Straw
by DON BOUDREAUX on APRIL 18, 2015
in SEEN AND UNSEEN, WORK

*** begin quote ***

What minimum-wage hikes do unleash, however, is devastation upon a relatively small number of largely invisible workers – workers who are the least skilled and most disadvantaged.  Raising the minimum wage destroys jobs for many of these poor workers while making the jobs of other such workers more onerous.  But because these workers are so relatively few in number, their suffering, while very real, is easy to miss when looking at the aggregate data.  This fact explains why some – by no means a majority – of minimum-wage studies (particularly those that examine only short spans of time) find no negative employment effects.

*** end quote ***

Minimum wage “laws” are devestating to the poor, minority, low income, and senior citizens.

Why are they pushed?

Cui bono.

How many of the salaries of union and “public service” jobs are tied formally or informally to the minimum wage?

Of all the stupid legislation, this ranks right up there with the dumbest of the dumb (i.e., rounding off Pi; time zones; etc.).

Argh!

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INTERESTING: Ancient Roman Concrete was better than today’s?

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

http://www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-technology/ten-amazing-inventions-ancient-times-001539

4. Ancient Roman Concrete was Far Superior to Our Own

Scientists studying the composition of Roman concrete, which has been submerged under the Mediterranean Sea for the last 2,000 years, discovered that it was superior to modern-day concrete in terms of durability and being less environmentally damaging. The Romans made concrete by mixing lime and volcanic rock. For underwater structures, the combination of lime and volcanic ash with seawater instantly triggered a chemical reaction in which the lime incorporated molecules into its structure and reacted with the ash to cement the whole mixture together. Analysis of the concrete found that it produces a significantly different compound to modern day cement, which is an incredibly stable binder. In addition, the ancient concrete contains the ideal crystalline structure of Tobermorite, which has a greater strength and durability than the modern equivalent. Finally, microscopic studies identified other minerals in the ancient concrete which show potential application for high-performance concretes, including the encapsulation of hazardous wastes. “In the middle 20th century, concrete structures were designed to last 50 years,” said scientist Paulo Monteiro said. “Yet Roman harbour installations have survived 2,000 years of chemical attack and wave action underwater.”

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Who would have thought that?

Never was mentioned in my strength of materials class back in Ingineering Skrule!

Hmm, what else don’t I know that I don’t know I don’t know?

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RANT: Repeal the Renewable Fuel Standard now

Monday, April 20, 2015

http://www.unionleader.com/article/20150418/OPINION02/150419168&source=RSS

April 17. 2015 10:02PM
It’s time to repeal the costly Renewable Fuel Standard
Michael James Barton

*** begin quote ***

In a rare act of bipartisanship, Sens. Pat Toomey, R-Penn., and Diane Feinstein, D-Calif., recently introduced a bill that would repeal the corn ethanol mandate in the Renewable Fuel Standard.

That’s good news for American workers and families.

Although Congress created the Renewable Fuel Standard with good intentions, it’s no longer workable. Instead of bolstering energy security as intended, the RFS is merely undermining the economic success of our recent energy boom while posing a threat to the environment and even raising food prices. It’s time for Congress to repeal the fundamentally broken RFS.

Congress created the RFS under the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The intention was to simultaneously reduce dependence on expensive foreign oil while lowering greenhouse gas emissions. The act mandated that each year an increasing amount of biofuels be blended into transportation fuels.

*** end quote ***

Why should politicians be interfering in the pseudo “free market” anyway?

I do NOT stipulate their “good intentions” EVER!

When they first proposed this whopper, everyone said it will hurt the poor WORLDWIDE by raising food prices.

And, wow!, now they discover that the world has changed.

Argh!

Separation of Food and State, Energy and State, and whatever else we can separate.

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POLITICAL: A condemnation of Bill and thus Hillary I hadn’t realized

Sunday, April 19, 2015

https://www.lewrockwell.com/2015/04/david-stockman/class-president-of-a-failed-generation/

Hillary Clinton: Class President Of A Failed Generation
By David Stockman
David Stockman’s Corner
April 17, 2015

*** begin quote ***

Their job was to have at least the vision of Warren G. Harding. After all, he did demobilize the US war machine completely, eschewed the imperial pretensions of Woodrow Wilson and actually launched a disarmament movement which resulted in the melting down of the world’s navies and the Kellogg-Briand treaty to outlaw war.

Yet the opportunity at the Cold War’s end was even more compelling. There was absolutely no military threat to American security anywhere in the world. The Clintons could have drastically reduced the defense budget by mothballing much of the navy and air force and demobilizing the army. They should have cancelled all new weapons programs and dismantled the military-industrial complex. They could have declared “mission accomplished” with respect to NATO and made good on Bush’s pledge to Gorbachev to not expand it “by an inch” by actually disbanding it. And, as legatees of 1968, they were positioned to lead a global disarmament movement and to end the arms export trade once and for all.

That was their job—-the unfinished business of peace. But they blew it in the name of political opportunism and failure to recognize that the American public was ready to end the century of war, too.

So they capitulated to the pork barrel politics of the Pentagon, plunged into the lunacy of the Balkan wars, launched the misbegotten project to expanded NATO, failed to bring Iran back into the community of nation’s when its leaders reached out to Washington, and kept America in harm’s way by keeping our war machine in the Persian Gulf and extending the pointless campaign against Saddam Hussein that could only open the gates to hell in Bagdad.

*** end quote ***

I remember the discussion of the “peace dividend” when the USSR broke up. What happened?

Ike was right to warn us of the Military Industrial Complex!

So how does anyone be like Harding? (Who has moved up in my estimation with my being educated about his disarmament stance.)

I think a good start is to —as most good MBAs will assert — is to cut G&A 10% immediately.

That goes along with my wish to cut — a real bottom line cut; not the phoney “District of Corruption” cut to the rate of growth — 1% every year. (At least, until real people scream! Not astroturf people.)

One can only hope.

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dotcomeraden! https://reinkefaceslife.com/2007/10/23/fun-dotcomeraden/ Aprundlebreakhttp://tinyurl.com/34n533

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: Over response?

Saturday, April 18, 2015

2015-Apr-18 1225

IMG 1095

Bus tapped bumper of little car. 3 cop cars, fire engine, ambulance, deputy fire marshal.

My tax dollars at work!

Well, it’s a nice day for them to be out and about.

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GOVERNACIDE: Common factor in tragedies — psych drugs

Saturday, April 18, 2015

https://www.lewrockwell.com/podcast/psychiatric-drugs-and-the-downing-of-germanwings-9525/

Psychiatric Drugs and the Downing of the Germanwings A320
Peter Breggin, MD, talks to Lew Rockwell about Big Pharma and mass murder.
April 14, 2015

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Interesting that this exposes the corrupt relationship between Big Pharma, the FDA, the psychiatrists, and the media.

He draws the common factor between Germanwings A320, the mass shootings, and mothers killing children — psych drugs.

It’s worth the 30 minute listen imho.

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RANT: IF history is falsified, then …

Friday, April 17, 2015

https://www.lewrockwell.com/2015/04/paul-craig-roberts/the-power-of-lies-can-be-broken/

The Power of Lies
By Paul Craig Roberts
PaulCraigRoberts.org
April 14, 2015

*** begin quote ***

The reason I am writing about this is to illustrate how history is falsified in behalf of agendas. I am all for civil rights and participated in the movement while a college student. What makes me uncomfortable is the transformation of Lincoln, a tyrant who was an agent for the One Percent and was willing to destroy any and every thing in behalf of empire, into a civil rights hero. Who will be next? Hitler? Stalin? Mao? George W. Bush? Obama? John Yoo? If Lincoln can be a civil rights hero, so can be torturers. Those who murder in Washington’s wars women and children can be turned into defenders of women’s rights and child advocates. And probably they will be.

*** end quote ***

IF history is falsified, then …

… what can I believe.

Very simply, that which I can see and hear. Or that which I can “prove”.

The Earth may very well be flat, but there’s a lot of “evidence” that “proves” it isn’t.

Have to remember the difference between the “LAW of Gravity” and the “Theory of Evolution”,

Oh, and those things that the politicians and bureaucrats make up are not “laws”.

Calling a cat a lion doesn’t make it so. And visa versa.

Argh!

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TINFOILHAT: Boston Marathon Bombings’ trial seems to be gross injustice

Thursday, April 16, 2015

https://www.lewrockwell.com/2015/04/no_author/kangaroo-court-2/

Boston Marathon Bombings’ Guilty Verdict Exposed as a Gross Travesty of Justice
By Joachim Hagopian
GlobalResearch.ca
April 13, 2015

*** begin quote ***

And if a basic tenet of the justice system in the United States holds that a defendant is considered innocent until proven guilty, then again this verdict outcome is an obscene farce and a shameful joke exposing America’s justice system for its gross injustice. Just as the 9/11 commission failed to adequately address and answer dozens of questions that its official narrative failed to deliver, and years earlier the Warren Commission failed JFK and America, so does the prosecution’s case of evidence of Tsarnaev’s guilt fail to be convincing, much less provide definitive and unequivocal proof that the 21-year old Chechen American with his brother committed the Boston Marathon crimes.

And the prime reason why is that so much of the testimony and so called evidence was based on the FBI and local law enforcement’s dishonest versions of events that were based near exclusively on the government’s one star witness’s faulty, changeable, non-credible accounting of events. The identity of this sole witness that even through the trial was never revealed, testified in court by his fake name “Danny.” Later it was learned that Danny’s real name was Dun Meng. A Chinese national finishing his masters at Northeastern University in engineering, during his alleged carjacking, Meng claimed that the deceased brother Tamerlan confessed that he and his younger brother were responsible for both the Marathon bombings as well as the murder of the MIT campus policeman.

*** end quote ***

The more I read about the trial, “evidence”, and illusions of duplicity, the more I doubt that we are getting the Truth.

Did the Gooferment prove its case? Or did the defense take a dive?

With all the inconsistencies, seem like there is an automatic ineffective counsel appeal.

Then, there is the “conveniences” around the bombing: a security drill with paid mercenaries and backpacks, the large Gooferment response with troops, and — of course — the house to house searching.

Sorry, it just doesn’t sit right with me.

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POLITICAL: Abolish the IRS

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

http://www.againstcronycapitalism.org/2015/04/enough-is-enough-abolish-the-irs/

Enough Is Enough: Abolish the IRS
By Editor on April 12, 2015

*** begin quote ***

The income tax is absolutely crazy if one takes a moment to think about it. We’ve become so conditioned to accept it that we don’t even realize how ridiculous it is. The government taxes one for being productive, for creating income for one’s family, for doing one’s part to grow the economy. It doesn’t make any sense.

*** and ***

The IRS has also become a political tool as the Lois Lerner debacle illustrated. 

*** and ***

We should seriously consider a flat tax. Forget consider, we should institute a low flat tax tomorrow. 12.5% across the board. I could live with that (for right now.) 1 postcard on April 15th. No forms. Easy. Actually EZ.

*** end quote ***

I say 10%!

With reduction every year.

Until it’s zero.

Like Prohibition, “(pseudo) War on (some) Drugs”, and the Federal Reserve, “We, The Sheeple” have allowed a lot of mistakes to be made.

Argh!

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